A Few Words on Adolescence, The Biz of March Madness, A Crypto Bet, Ghibli-gate, Sleep Hacks, and more.

Good morning. It’s Sunday, March 30.

Today, we are covering a devastating Myanmar earthquake, the U.S. government’s big bet on crypto, a spree of Trump pardons, IRS turmoil, and more.

Before diving into today’s headlines, I wanted to share a few thoughts on Adolescence, the new Netflix series that’s been sitting heavy with me. As a father to a two-year-old boy, watching this show stirred up a deep sense of unease—not just about the dangers young people face online, but about the quiet ways boys can feel unseen in the world. The show centers on Jamie, a 13-year-old boy who commits a horrific act of violence after being drawn into the misogynistic world of the online “manosphere.” These digital spaces prey on boys’ insecurity, emotional suppression, and the absence of real community. They offer simplistic, harmful narratives in place of real connection or healing. If no one teaches a boy how to name what he feels, it’s all too easy for him to adopt a mindset that blames others, especially women, for his pain. What makes Adolescence hit even harder is that it’s loosely inspired by a real-life case in the UK, where a 14-year-old boy was radicalized online and went on to attack a girl he knew. The show’s creators make it clear: this wasn’t about bad parenting or a broken home. It was about how quickly vulnerable boys can be pulled into these spaces, often before the adults in their lives even realize what’s happening.

But that’s only part of the story. Yes, the algorithms are powerful, but that only makes the role of parents, particularly fathers, even more important. Jamie’s radicalization didn’t happen in a vacuum. His father is still wrestling with his own trauma, and our broader culture continues to undervalue the emotional lives of boys and men. That’s what struck me most. Raising my son, especially in a digital world that will be talking to him even when I’m not, means doing more than just keeping him away from harm. It means creating a home where he feels safe being vulnerable, seen, and deeply loved. It means giving him the emotional tools to move through the world with empathy and kindness, even when the world doesn’t make that easy. And for those of us who are fathers, that work starts with us. We have to be present, emotionally available, and accountable. We have to raise our sons with more care and intention than many of us received. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about breaking cycles and being the men we needed when we were boys.

At Good Diet, we’re committed to earning your trust by delivering credible, reliable, and thoughtful news. Let us know what you love, what you’d like to see more or less of, or any other suggestions you may have. You can send feedback directly to me at rashad@gooddiet.news.

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Best,

Rashad Drakeford

Co-Founder & Publisher, Good Diet

The U.S. Betting Big on Crypto

The U.S. is taking a clear pivot toward embracing crypto—not just as a financial tool, but as part of its broader economic and regulatory strategy. Between new federal banking guidance and Trump’s push to build a national Bitcoin reserve, it's clear that digital assets are moving from the margins to the mainstream. These moves could fundamentally reshape how crypto operates within the U.S. economy, opening new lanes for innovation, investment, and power plays.

• FDIC Eases Crypto Banking Restrictions: The FDIC announced that banks no longer need prior approval to engage in crypto-related activities, like holding digital assets or partnering with crypto firms. This signals a reversal from previous cautious stances, aimed at encouraging innovation—though banks are still expected to manage crypto risk responsibly.

• Trump Pushes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Trump signed an executive order to establish a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, positioning Bitcoin alongside traditional national reserves like gold. The reserve will be funded using crypto assets seized in federal criminal cases, underscoring a new vision of Bitcoin as a tool of national financial strategy.

• OCC Greenlights Crypto Custody Services: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued new guidance allowing national banks to offer crypto custody, operate stablecoin infrastructure, and even serve as validators on blockchain networks. This gives federally regulated banks a green light to step fully into the crypto economy—legally and competitively.

The Trump Pardons Are Back

President Trump just went on a pardon spree, wiping the slate clean for a handful of high-profile business and crypto execs convicted of fraud and financial crimes. Carlos Watson of Ozy Media, the founders of BitMEX, and Trevor Milton of Nikola all walked away from serious convictions. The move is raising deeper concerns about whether white-collar justice in Trump’s orbit is less about the facts of the case and more about who you know, what you’ve donated, and how close you are to his inner circle.

• Trevor Milton Walks Free: Trevor Milton, founder of electric truck company Nikola, was convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors by making false claims about the company’s technology and business prospects. Trump pardoned him before he served any of his four-year prison sentence, despite prosecutors calling the fraud “brazen” and “serious.” The move is drawing scrutiny given that Milton and his wife donated over $1.8 million to a Trump-aligned super PAC shortly before the 2020 election, and Milton was also known to frequent Trump properties and events.

• Carlos Watson's Sentence Commuted: Watson, co-founder of Ozy Media, was convicted of defrauding investors by faking revenue numbers and business deals, landing a nearly 10-year prison sentence. Trump commuted his sentence just before it began, erasing both the jail time and associated fines.

• BitMEX Founders Pardoned: Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed pleaded guilty in 2022 to Bank Secrecy Act violations tied to anti–money laundering failures on their crypto platform. Trump’s pardons wiped their records clean, despite their roles in what regulators called a “willful disregard” for U.S. financial law.

Myanmar’s Devastating Earthquake

A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar causing widespread destruction and a rapidly rising death toll. The disaster has overwhelmed the nation's infrastructure, prompting urgent calls for international assistance. As rescue operations continue, the full extent of the devastation is still unfolding.​

• Rising Human Toll: As of March 30, the death toll has surpassed 1,600, with over 3,400 injured and 139 individuals still missing. The hardest-hit areas include Mandalay and Naypyitaw, where collapsed buildings and damaged infrastructure have hampered rescue efforts. ​

• International Aid Mobilized: In response, the United Nations has allocated $5 million in emergency aid, while China has pledged 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) and dispatched rescue teams. Russia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand have also provided substantial support, sending rescue personnel and medical supplies to assist in relief operations.

• Compounding Challenges: Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict has already displaced over 3.5 million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The earthquake's destruction of critical infrastructure, including hospitals and bridges, further impedes relief efforts and underscores the urgent need for coordinated international support.

ChatGPT meets Studio Ghibli

This week, OpenAI’s new image tool sparked a viral trend by turning everyday photos into Studio Ghibli–style portraits. But what started as lighthearted fun quickly morphed into a deeper conversation about copyright and the value of human creativity. With everyone from Sam Altman to the White House posting their “Ghibli-fied” pics, artists and ethicists are asking: where’s the line between inspiration and exploitation?

• A Viral Hit with Serious Reach: Within hours of launch, social media was flooded with AI-generated portraits mimicking Studio Ghibli’s iconic aesthetic—complete with doe-eyed characters, soft watercolor palettes, and fantasy backdrops. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joked that the servers were “melting” under the weight of demand, and the White House even joined in—drawing backlash for its tasteless use of an image tied to a recent immigration arrest.

• Art vs. Algorithm: While OpenAI claims its tool avoids imitating living artists, it still allows replication of broader studio aesthetics—like those of Ghibli, Pixar, or Disney. Critics argue this skirts the ethical issue: animated masterpieces like Spirited Away take years of human labor to create, yet AI can now mimic their essence in seconds without credit or compensation.

• Legal Pressure Is Mounting: The Ghibli controversy follows a growing wave of lawsuits from authors, journalists, and musicians who say their work was used to train AI without permission. Though OpenAI insists it’s taking a “conservative approach,” the broader creative industry is watching closely—and gearing up for a fight over where AI's rights end and artists' rights begin.

College Basketball Remains Big Business

There’s been a lot of noise about the state of men’s college basketball—no mid-majors in the Sweet 16, a mass exodus in the transfer portal, and claims that the magic of March is fading. But behind the headlines, the business of college hoops is thriving, and the real story is about power shifting, not disappearing. With record-breaking viewership, a pending $2.78 billion legal settlement, and the rise of direct pay for players, we’re entering a new era—one that’s messier, but way more honest.

• The Money’s Still Pouring In: The 2025 NCAA Tournament’s first two rounds averaged 9.4 million viewers per game across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV—the most since 1993. Kentucky vs. Illinois alone drew 15.3 million viewers, and with ad spend projected to top $1.3 billion this year, the tournament remains one of the most valuable properties in all of sports broadcasting.

• The NCAA Is Sitting on a Billion-Dollar Deal: The NCAA’s media rights contract with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery is worth $8.8 billion through 2032, generating more than $800 million annually. In 2024, the NCAA brought in $1.38 billion in total revenue—about 85% of it from March Madness alone.

• Revenue Sharing Is Coming: The proposed House v. NCAA settlement—granted preliminary approval in federal court—would allow each Division I school to share up to $20 million a year with athletes starting in July 2025. It also includes $2.78 billion in retroactive backpay for former athletes, formalizing a professional shift in the college sports economy.

• The Portal and NIL Era Is Here to Stay: Over 1,000 players entered the transfer portal in just the first week of it reopening, making NCAA movement more fluid than pro sports. While it may seem chaotic, NIL budgets are growing fast, and schools are now competing not just with facilities and prestige, but with real financial offers and in the open.

Radio Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Our Editor Their War Plans (Listen)

“The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, received a connection request on Signal from a “Michael Waltz,” which is the name of President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. Two days later, he was added to a group text with top administration officials created for the purpose of coordinating high-level national-security conversations about the Houthis in Yemen. We talk with Goldberg and Shane Harris, an Atlantic national-security reporter, about what it means that this absurd and admittedly relatable thing happened in such a high-stakes situation.”

Decoder: Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour on AI, Press Freedom, and the Future of News (Listen)

“Almar Latour is the publisher of the Wall Street Journal and also CEO of its parent company, Dow Jones — itself a part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Almar's been with the paper since the 90s, and now he's got insight into all the modern messes. He's made a big deal with OpenAI, while also suing Perplexity — all while building his own AI data products for Dow Jones customers.”

Explain It to Me: Why Can’t I Sleep? (Listen)

“We spend about a third of our lives either sleeping or trying to fall asleep. Why are we so bad at it? We ask behavioral sleep specialist Jade Wu.”

Post Reports: The IRS is in Turmoil (Listen)

“With just a few weeks to go until Tax Day, Treasury Department and IRS officials are predicting a decrease of more than 10 percent in tax receipts by the April 15 deadline compared with 2024. That would amount to more than $500 billion in lost federal revenue. The prediction, officials told congressional economic correspondent Jacob Bogage, is directly tied to changing taxpayer behavior and President Donald Trump’s rapid demolition of parts of the IRS.”

Fresh Air: Amanda Know is ‘Free,’ But Is That Enough? (Listen)

“Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in an Italian prison for a murder she didn't commit. After her exoneration, she reached out to the man who prosecuted her case. She talks about how she made herself useful while in prison, readjusting to being back home, and the survivor's guilt that follows her. Knox's new memoir is Free.”